The new year will bring another federal election, and Barnaby Joyce will be standing as a candidate, the Member for New England said.
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In an interview with the Leader to mark the end of 2020, the former Deputy Prime Minister and Nationals MP reflected on his 15th year in elected life.
He pointed to dam construction and local community projects often condemned as "pork barreling" as some of the biggest wins of the year.
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"The biggest success, obviously, is Dungowan Dam. I had every critic in the world against me on that," he said.
"They just said it would never happen, it would never get approved. I did it. That's on the back of getting the extension to Chaffey Dam, which they said would never happen and we did it.
"On top of that money for Mole River Dam; which they said would never happen, I've started that. These are massive infrastructure projects."
He said the infrastructure wins proved it wasn't yet time to leave politics.
In fact, Mr Joyce said he plans to stay as a local MP as long as the electorate believes he's still delivering.
"There's always further things to do," he said.
"I love it when people say that I'm pork barrelling, that's great. I think it's one of the best compliments a politician can get.
"It means you're working hard and getting things approved."
He said the Morrison government would likely call a federal election "any time after August" 2021, using next year's anticipated coronavirus recovery budget as a springboard.
"I will be [re-contesting the election], definitely. When you're able to deliver the things you're looking for in government you don't give up, you keep going," he said.
"That is always, of course, a choice for the people of New England. They make a choice about whether they want you or not. Hopefully they do."
Mr Joyce spent much of the coronavirus pandemic debating the $100 billion JobKeeper benefit with the local business chamber.
In May, he said the business support scheme should be canned early. Tamworth Business Chamber President Jye Segboer, who called the subsidy a "lifeline", said the scheme should be extended.
The MP told the Leader on Wednesday the debate reflected his background as an accountant.
"I just think that I'm an accountant and they're in business. I certainly understand that you just can't keep borrowing money from overseas," he said.
"It has to come to an end. And, any money borrowed for business ultimately has to be paid by business, because governments don't have money.
"As long as you accept that in the future government says 'I'm going to increase taxes, bring in future taxes and charges to repay the debt that we borrowed from overseas for the crisis' then I suppose we don't have a problem. But I know when that day comes it will be businesses that will be telling me that's unreasonable."
The Commonwealth Government must hold an election before September 2022.
Construction on a new 22.5 gigalitre Dungowan Dam was fast-tracked in 2019 during the water crisis, with work expected to start early in 2021. It's the state's first new dam in nearly 30 years. The project still does not have an environmental impact statement or a business case. It will cost $480 million to build.
Andrew Messenger
Politics, environment and energy journalist at the Northern Daily Leader. I also write about health, bushfires and occasionally music. I'm a Brisbane boy by way of Charleville and Hobart who now lives in in beautiful New England. Get me at andrew.messenger@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Politics, environment and energy journalist at the Northern Daily Leader. I also write about health, bushfires and occasionally music. I'm a Brisbane boy by way of Charleville and Hobart who now lives in in beautiful New England. Get me at andrew.messenger@austcommunitymedia.com.au
